Top comebacks in the history of the knockout stages of the World Cup

by Sajeesh Soman / 5 months ago

Top comebacks in the history of the knockout stages of the World Cup:

Round of 16 (1994):

Back then in 1994, the African teams were much stronger as Nigeria prepared to face giants Italy. The African team took the lead with a scrambled effort from a corner to shock Italy. It only got worse for Italy as Gianfranco Zola was sent off in the 75th minute. But it was Italy’s messiah Roberto Baggio who turned around things. He scored a goal to level and take things to extra time. It was him again who scored a wonderful chip to take Italy into the quarter finals and stun the Nigerians.

Round of 16 (2014):

Netherlands faced Mexico as they came into the round of 16 high in confidence beating Spain 5-1 in the group stages. Giovanni dos Santos’ stunner gave Mexico the lead as Guillherme Ochoa made saves after saves forbidding the Dutch to equalize but he couldn’t stop them scoring in the 88th minute through Wesley Sneijder. ArjenRobben went down far too easily to claim a penalty in the stoppage time which was successfully converted by KlaasHuntelaar and Mexico were more than hard done.

Round of 16 (2002):

This affair was pretty similar to that of Nigeria and Italy in the 1994 World Cup. This time it was Italy who took the lead in a controversial game against South Korea. But in the 88th minute, South Korean winger Seol Ki-Hyeon capitalize on an error by Italy to equalize. As the game went into extra time, Francesco Totti was controversially sent off and Korea managed to score a late winner through Ahn Jung Hwan and progress further.

Quarter final (1990):

England faced Cameroon in the quarter final and took the lead through David Platt. Cameroon came back strongly through their hero Roger Milla and substitute Eugene Ekeke. It was Gary Lineker who rescued the Three Lions by scoring through a spot kick before the game went to the extra time. He repeated the same in the extra time to seal a famous victory for England.

Round of 16 (2018):

Belgium were expected to register an easy win against Japan but the Asian team had different ideas. After a goalless first half, Japan scored twice in the second half through Genki Hamaguchi and Takashi Inui. Belgium responded brilliantly through Jan Vertonghen. It was the substitute Marouane Fellaini who turned the game around by equalizing. Belgium in the dying minutes of the game displayed a classic counter attack which helped them register a historic win to move into the quarter finals.

Final (1934):

The 1934 final was between Italy and Czechoslovakia and the game saw no goal until the 70th minute when Antonin Puc scored for Czechoslovakia. But Italy responded soon in the 81st minute through Raimundo Orsi to take the game into extra time. It was Angelo Schiavo who scored the winner for Italy in extra time to make an incredible comeback.

Semi final (1970):

It has to be one of the greatest games in the history of the tournament. Italy were facing West Germany then and Italy took an early lead in the eighth minute. They almost managed to see it through as Karl Heinz Schnellinger scored his only national goal to take the game into extra time. Germany went on to take the lead through Gerd Muller. But Italy stunned Germany by scoring twice before the first half of the extra time ended. It was Gerd Muller who scored once again to equalize but Italy managed to make a score once more as Gianni Rivera scored the winner to win an incredible match.

Quarter final (1970):

Defending champions England faced West Germany and they had a stunning start to the game as they scored twice through Alan Mullery and Martin Peters. But Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer who pulled one back before striker Uwe Seeler equalized to stretch the game to extra time. Gerd Muller scored a tap in to register a tremendous comeback after having been two goals down.

Quarter final (1966):

This quarter final saw North Korea go against Portugal and the Asians had a solid start as they scored within the first minute. It only got better for them as they scored twice to go up 3-0 inside the first 25 minutes. But Portugal legend Eusebio didn’t gave up and scored twice before the first half ended. He went on to complete his hat-trick and equalized and he stunningly scored his fourth in the next three minutes to help Portugal take the lead. It was outstanding from Eusebio as the Portuguese killed the game by scoring the fifth before full time to register a phenomenal comeback.

Final (1954):

This final saw West Germany face Hungary in the 1954 World Cup. With FerencP uskas back in the side, Hungary were expected to be deadly in the attack and they proved to be as Puskasand ZoltanCzibor gave them a 2-0 lead inside the eight minutes. Max Morlock pulled one back for Germany before they equalized through a corner. It was in the 84th minute that Germany pulled off a winner through Helmut Rahn to win the World Cup. The comeback was immensely commendable as Germany were the underdogs coming into the game.